SOUTHFIELD​PRESERVATION WORKS

what we do

In general, historic house projects -- preservation, restoration, renovation, and additions -- tend to overlap. Often one project morphs into another, as an old restoration project morphs into a kitchen renovation, or a larger house demands a new garage. We do both small one-off projects and larger ones, to accommodate your budget, schedule, needs, and wants.

Preservation

Preservation and restoration go hand in hand, given the evolution of buildings and the changes they go through over time. In general, preservation is the prevention of decay or destruction of a historic structure. We offer the following preservation services:

Disassembling, storing, and/or reassembling buildings

Replacing or reinforcing structural elements

Painting or re-siding to deter the effects of the elements

Repurposing a building slated for destruction​

Restoration

Restoration is the renewal of a historic element back to a previous state -- although not necessarily an "original" one. Restoration services include:

​Recreating missing features

​Adding structural integrity to a poorly engineered building

​Replacing features or elements with ones appropriate to the vintage of the building, which may have more aesthetic or practical appeal than the original choices

Repairing and reglazing sash windows and shutters

Removing/replacing artificial or newer siding

Moving an original element to a different area of the building​

Renovations

Renovations are those projects that seek to make significant changes to a building or perhaps unify existing elements that were added over time by different owners without a coherent plan. Renovation services include:

​New interior spaces

New dormers

​Porches and patios

​Re-designing facades or connections

​Kitchen and bathroom upgrades​

Additions

​​Additions are entirely new structures, which we attempt to create with a unifying "look and feel" of the original building, site, or context.